5 September 2026
By Parr O’Dea
parr@thecork.ie
Satire / Parody
A team of local history enthusiasts have issued what they describe as “the most embarrassing correction in Cork history” after realising they may have misunderstood the name Model Farm Road for almost two centuries.
“We just assumed it was an agricultural thing,” admitted one researcher. “Nobody stopped to ask what kind of models.”
According to documents that absolutely nobody has verified, the famous Model Farm wasn’t a showcase for innovative farming methods at all, but an ambitious business employing dozens of female models to carry out everyday agricultural work while looking effortlessly glamorous.
Visitors reportedly travelled from all over Ireland to watch supermodels casually feed chickens, harvest potatoes, and lean against gates.
The dairy herd was said to produce “premium camera-ready milk” and “giving countryside chic.”
Residents say the operation transformed what was then rural Cork.
“You couldn’t move for photographers,” said one elderly local whose memory appears suspiciously selective. “Even the scarecrows had portfolios [paper files of 8×4 photographs].”
The farm eventually became internationally renowned, although critics argued harvesting wheat in high heels posed unnecessary health and safety concerns.
The venture finally collapsed after cows repeatedly wandered off during golden hour because photographers insisted on “one last shot.”
Today, the original estate forms part of Boston Scientific’s Cork campus, with the site’s beautiful listed building carefully preserved amid the modern development.
Traffic experts believe the legend also explains why Model Farm Road has been congested for decades.
“It’s not commuters,” claimed one entirely made-up transport analyst. “People are subconsciously slowing down in case somebody starts a fashion shoot beside the roundabout.”
Professional historians have dismissed the claims as “complete nonsense”, “historically impossible” and “please stop emailing us.”
The public, however, remains unconvinced.
“If it wasn’t full of models,” asked one Cork man, “then why would they call it Model Farm Road?”
It’s a question experts are expected to ignore for another 200 years.
The actual Model Farm building.Photographer: Robert French
Collection: Lawrence Photograph Collection
Date: Circa 1865 – 1914 1890
NLI Ref: L_CAB_01140